DHARAMSHALA: Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay today opened an international
conference of China experts entitled, ‘Leadership Transition in China:
Implications for the Chinese, Tibetans and Others’ at Gangchen Kyishong.

In his inaugural address, Sikyong Dr Sangay said that the experts’
perspectives and their substantive analysis on China’s political, social
and economic point of views would help CTA’s approach.

“The recent change in the Chinese leadership will have global
implications, regional as well as on India and the Tibetan people. And
your much sought after expertise will help us prepare and think through
as to how we should move forward in the comings months and years,” he
said.

Kalon Dicki Chhoyang of Department of Information and International
Relations spoke about the genesis of the Tibet Policy Institute. She
said the Tibet Policy Institute is a new initiative by the
administration to conduct research and advise the Central Tibetan
leadership on policy making.

“The Tibet Policy Institute was initiated because we had a strong
need for a think-tank. We want this institute to reach international
standards in terms of intellectual vigor and objectivity. What we don’t
want is an equivalent of Chinese propaganda machinery on the Tibetan
side,” she said.

Prof Chong Pin-Lin, Taiwan’s former deputy minister of national
defense, expressed optimism about new Chinese president Xi Jinping’s
future approach towards the issue of Tibet in view of his father’s
liberal stand, and his wife as a follower of Tibetan Buddhism. He said
Mr Xi may approach His Holiness the Dalai Lama for dialogue on Tibet
problem and he also faces grave challenges to tackle issues of minority
nationalities.